Improvement in railway track-clearers



2 Sheeris" Sheet 1.v

P. I. SACHGPP. Railway Tra'ck-Clearers'.

Patented Dec. 10, 1872.

"2 Sheets--Sheet 2 scHoPP;

.Railway Track-Clearers.

Patented Dec.10.,1872.

llllll JIM vWl TNESSEJ UNITED STATEs PATENT OEEIoE.

PHILIP I. SCHOPP, OF LOUISVILLE,`KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY TRACK-CLEARERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,726, dated December10, 187-2.

My invention relates to the combination of a rail-sweeping apparatusvwith the platform of astreet-car, in easy reach to the driver, to besetv in operation whenever the driverdiscovers the rail in front t0 beobstructed by the accumulation of dust, mud, or stones,.or

any other obstruction requiring no great force to be removed.

Figure 1 is a side eleva-tion ofthe appara tus. Fig. 2 is a plan of atriangular-shaped broom with part of lever fastened to it. Fig. 3 is aplan of the lever-support with crossbar attached. Fig. .tis a frontelevation of the apparatus. Fig. 5.is a front elevation, with verticalcenter piece and horizontal connections, with part of lever A above thepivotpoint. l

A isa vertical lever, curved below the piv ot-point. To this lever isattached a broom, B, (or shovel, if desired,) by means of screwbolts. Cis a lever-support, with a slit in the middle,`and a movable cross-bar,a, attached toit by a bolt. The support is fastened to the railings orguards of the platform E, and

supported, when needed, by a brace, as shown in Figs.`1 and 4. D-is aniron bar, fastened to the platform F. On its outer end it is rounded andiiattened and provided with a hole to receive a-screw-bolt, b, by whichbolt lever A iskept to bar I), loosely, however, to allow motion. G isthe rail.` The dotted lines show the position of the lever and broomwhen at rest.

When intended to be used the driver draws the upper end of the levertoward himself and secures it in a perpendicular position by the bar apreventing it from falling forward. In

this position the broom acts upon the rail.

Vas not to touch the ground, without increasing the angles above thepivot-point beyond a convenient reach of the lever by the driver. Thisarrangement will also permit a more compact and solid construction asthe apparatus is near the platform, thus avoiding out-reaching supports.

It is intended to have an apparatus on each .side of the car and work itas needed; but, if

preferred, the lever A may be* bent in a horizontal or diagonaldirection somewhat above the pivot-point, and connected with a verticalpiece, H, in or near the center of the platform,

as shown in Fig. 5, by which the apparatus could be worked on both sidesat the same time with a single pull bythe driver.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of curved lever A, broom orshovel B, support G with cross-bar a attached, bar D, platform F andguard E, substantially, andrfor the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The vertical center-piece H, in combination with the lever A, supportG, cross-bar a, for the purpose, hereinbefore set forth.

PHILIP I. SGHOPP.

Witnesses SAML. E. PALMER, HERMAN WERNER'.

